(August 26, 2008) Pradeep Sharma, Bill D. Cook associate professor of mechanical engineering, and co-investigator Ken White, professor of mechanical engineering, received a nearly $400,000 National Science Foundation grant to further research into super-charged piezoelectrics--materials that naturally generate electricity when placed under stress. The researchers will use the funds to try and pinpoint the material properties, found at the nanoscale, that create an increased electric charge when two non-piezoelectric materials are combined. Staff Photo by Thomas Shea / UH Cullen College of Engineering.